Sub-theme 51 (Cancelled): Remaining Human: The Challenges and Necessity of Rethinking Humanism in a ‘More-than-Human’ Society
Call for Papers
Call for short
papers (pdf)
Management and Organization sciences face today unprecedented challenges questioning and threatening
humanization at work – i.e., the ability to respect and promote human dignity at work, such as climate change (Nyberg &
Wright, 2022), advancements in artificial intelligence (Charlwood & Guenole, 2022), and the organizational transformations
induced by the COVID-19 pandemic (Taskin et al., 2024). These developments call into question the fundamental assumptions
underpinning management theories.
Responses so far have involved reimagining management and organization
theory by integrating perspectives from both living and non-living entities. (Re-)emerging frameworks, such as posthumanist
thought (de Vaujany et al., 2024) and sociomateriality (Orlikowski, 2010) perspectives, which extend seminal work proposed
by Anthony Giddens (1984), Michel Callon (1984), Bruno Latour (1993) or Henri Lefebvre (1992), have gained prominence in addressing
these issues.
One of the core premises of such theories is that traditional humanism has become obsolete,
criticized for its anthropocentrism, exceptionalism, and masculinism (Gherardi & Laasch, 2022). Indeed, a ‘more-than-human’
society necessitates rethinking the roles and definitions of humanism and humanity itself.
However, many
of the promises of humanism – such as fostering emancipation and dignity (Dierksmeier, 2016; Melé, 2003) – remain unfulfilled
in organizations. To abandon humanism altogether is to deprive ourselves of potential emancipatory prospects and to risk unwittingly
drifting towards dehumanizing logics. Instead, humanism should be rethought in ways that integrate its critiques, allowing
it to coexist with and enhance posthumanist perspectives. Rethinking humanism in this way enables a deeper appreciation of
non-human perspectives while preventing the potential dehumanizing effects of ‘more-than-human’ organizational practices (Al-Amoudi,
2022).
This sub-theme identifies two central avenues for exploration:
Rethinking humanism as a foundation for posthumanist practices: it is impossible to fully transcend our human condition and understand the experiences of other beings from an external perspective. Therefore, rethinking the human condition is essential for developing practices and reframing organizations in ways that are ethically and practically sustainable. The proposals for paradigms based on dignity to align organizations with the SDGs (Pirson, 2023), as well as for a renewed anthropology underpinning humane management (Taskin, 2022) are a first step towards such a reflection.
Rethinking humanism to incorporate posthumanist critiques: considerable progress has been made in management studies by recognizing the dignity of all living beings (Melé, 2016) and fostering environmental care (Laszlo, 2019). However, these efforts to develop more effective ‘more-than-human’ practices can be further enriched by engaging with feminist and ecological approaches, among others.
The primary objective of this sub-theme is to explore how humanism can contribute to understanding and advancing ‘more-than-human’ organizations and management practices. We invite theoretical and empirical contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following questions:
How can humanism and humanization be defined within management and organization studies?
How can contemporary organizations humanize their policies and practices? What specific initiatives can they undertake to implement humanist ideals?
What risks of dehumanization might emerge when management processes are reconfigured around ‘more-than-human’ perspectives?
How can they integrate critiques from posthumanist, ecological, and feminist theories? What implications would such integration have for workplace environments?
What ethical challenges arise at the intersection of humanism and posthumanism in organizations?
We welcome diverse contributions
that critically engage with these themes, aiming to advance theoretical, empirical, and practical insights into the role of
humanism in reframing organizations for a ‘more-than-human’ society.
References
- Al-Amoudi, I. (2022): “Are post-human technologies dehumanizing? Human enhancement and artificial intelligence in contemporary societies.” Journal of Critical Realism, 21 (5), 516–538.
- Callon, M. (1984): “Some Elements of a Sociology of Translation: Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen of St Brieuc Bay.” The Sociological Review, 32 (1_suppl), 196–233.
- Charlwood, A., & Guenole, N. (2022): “Can HR adapt to the paradoxes of artificial intelligence?” Human Resource Management Journal, 32 (4), 729–742.
- de Vaujany, F.-X., Gherardi, S., & Silva, P. (2024): Organization Studies and Posthumanism: Towards a More-than-Human World. New York: Routledge.
- Dierksmeier, C. (2016): “What is ‘Humanistic’ About Humanistic Management?” Humanistic Management Journal, 1 (1), 9–32.
- Gherardi, S., & Laasch, O. (2022): “Responsible Management-as-Practice: Mobilizing a Posthumanist Approach.” Journal of Business Ethics, 181 (2), 269–281.
- Giddens, A. (1984): The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.
- Laszlo, C. (2019): “Strengthening Humanistic Management.” Humanistic Management Journal, 4 (1), 85–94.
- Latour, B. (1993): We Have Never Been Modern. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
- Lefebvre, H. (1992): The Production of Space. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Melé, D. (2003): “The Challenge of Humanistic Management.” Journal of Business Ethics, 44 (1), 77–88.
- Melé, D. (2016): “Understanding Humanistic Management.” Humanistic Management Journal, 1 (1), 33–55.
- Nyberg, D., & Wright, C. (2022): “Climate-Proofing Management Research.” Academy of Management Perspectives, 36 (2), 713–728.
- Orlikowski, W.J. (2010): “The sociomateriality of organisational life : Considering technology in management research.” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 34 (1), 125–141.
- Pirson, M. (2023): “Dignity, Humanistic Management and the Sustainable Development Goals.” Journal of Management for Global Sustainability, 11 (1), https://doi.org/10.13185/2244-6893.1001.
- Taskin, L. (2022): “Towards Managing Humanely.” In: D. Dias & C. Magalhães (eds.): People Management: Highlighting Futures. IntechOpen Editions, https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/83689
- Taskin, L., Klinksiek, I., & Ajzen, M. (2024): “Re-humanising management through co-presence : Lessons from enforced telework during the second wave of Covid-19.” New Technology, Work and Employment, 39 (1), 143–167.